For a long time, medical professionals suspected that having good oral hygiene was connected to overall body health. Recent studies have continued to provide evidence in support of this, with reports coming out that having excellent dental health can also promote overall body health. While the connection between heart disease and diabetes in relation to dental health has been well researched, new studies are connecting cardiovascular disease to poor dental health practices.
In a study published earlier this year in Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism, researchers found that bacteria found in the mouth and oral infections could lead to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. According to coverage published by Medical Daily, these infections of the mouth are the access point for oral bacteria to travel into the body, where it then grows and exacerbates problems with cholesterol and triggering inflammation, most commonly worsening periodontitis.
This disease of the mouth is also one of the leading infections that can allow these bacteria into the body. A largely preventable disease, periodontitis can eat away at the soft tissues of the gums and ultimately destroy bone as well. This infection has been connected to both diabetes and heart disease previously, and this latest research only strengthens the connection. Truly, paying attention to your dental health is vital to maintaining a healthy body.
In a second report covered in London’s Daily Mail, poor dental health was connected to overall problems with inflammation in the body. In a two-part BBC series, an individual went without brushing part of his teeth for two weeks to determine the effect on his oral hygiene. At the end of the test period, he discovered that not only had he developed a mild case of gum disease, but he also had wreaked havoc on the ability of his body’s white blood cells to attack infections. Tests on the individual’s blood performed at University of Birmingham School of Dentistry showed that the blood cells were moving in seemingly random and slow, ineffective ways in the presence of infectious bacteria.
The cause of this was chronic inflammation, caused as part of the body’s response to invading bacteria coming through the infection of the gums. This damage, according to the report, is reversible if a short-term issue, but left for long periods of time it can lead to irreversible damage to the body. Alongside other potential problems already known – not to mention the damages that poor dental health can cause in the mouth to teeth and gums – the clear solution is to brush, floss and rinse your mouth regularly to prevent infections and bacteria from growing.
These are excellent preventative and maintenance measures, but nothing compares to a full dental exam and thorough cleaning at the dentist. An office cleaning can get into hard to reach areas and provides dentists and dental technicians an opportunity to discuss your dental health with you and alert you to any problems or potential problems before they become an issue. Don’t risk your health – call us at 585-343-1113 or schedule your next appointment online today!